How to protect personal data

The risk is very high. Protecting personal data has become a necessity, not only in the face of attacks that can come from hackers, but also due to the fragility of our online privacy . So much so that, according to Eurostat data, a third of Italians install apps on smartphones without providing any form of protection for their data. But how to protect personal data effectively Let's see it together.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR PERSONAL DATA

Web security is a complex issue that is still far from being fully effective. The digital world, however full of possibilities and information for everyone, is not immune to data breaches , hacker attacks and data dispersion. The phenomenon is increasingly marked and even companies, to respond to the threat, are finally allocating a greater amount of funds for cybersecurity . But the thing is not that simple.

Whenever you register online, create a profile on the web, make a purchase on an e-commerce site, install an app on your smartphone or subscribe to a newsletter, our data is stored by the company or from the reference digital property.

The problem is that companies are not always really able to manage and protect the data provided. Sometimes, digital privacy is inefficient, and data is easy to access for cyber crime . For these reasons, but not only that, it is important that users are aware of their actions on the web and know the best of some good practices that can best protect their personal data.

SET SECURE PASSWORDS

First of all, it is the security keys that make the first and huge contribution on the web. Using secure passwords is the first step in protecting your data in the digital world. In some cases, such as for Google, the browser itself suggests a password to set that complies with security standards .

But to intervene independently, it is recommended to create long passwords , over 10 characters, mixing numbers , symbols and lowercase and uppercase characters . The security code must not remember any family names, dates of birth or personal data that the hacker could discover. It is also important to use different passwords for each website or account you want to create. In fact, if you were using a security key for multiple sites, and it was discovered, many other accounts would be at risk at the same time, just as reported in the ExpressVPN article .

USING TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION (2FA)

An additional security system has been introduced with two-factor authentication (2FA), an additional step to access a personal account on the web. This can require, for example, a confirmation from an App , a code generated with a Code Generator , such as Google Authenticator , but also a code sent via SMS to the private number or to a set email. In some cases it is only possible to log in with biometric confirmation .

But what exactly happens in these cases Let's say that a user has created an account on Facebook, and from the first moment he has also set up 2FA. After a few months, a hacker manages to find the user's password, but due to the two-factor authentication system, he cannot access the profile since he cannot confirm with a code or an App from a personal device of the hacked user .

In this way, as soon as the warning email arrives that someone has attempted to access the profile from an unknown location, it will be enough to change the password without having suffered any damage.

INSTALL ANTIVIRUS AND FIREWALL SOFTWARE

Another problem that could compromise personal data is attacks through malware and viruses . By installing an antivirus on your PC you can limit the damage and prevent such attacks from occurring.

We must not forget Firewalls , security components capable of protecting a computer system or a specific network from unauthorized access . In fact, acting as a barrier, the Firewall filters all the data that try to pass through it, selecting which one can pass and which one should be blocked. So a winning solution on how to protect personal data directly from PC.

AVOID SUSPICIOUS WEBSITES

Insecure or suspicious websites are those sites that do not have an SSL certificate for data protection and encryption , run on an HTTP connection instead of an HTTPS one, and are often filled with spam advertisements or unreliable content. Typically, browsers today can detect from the outset if you are accessing an insecure and suspicious area. Here is an example of a secure site, like this.

NAVIGATE WITH A SECURE INTERNET CONNECTION

Another way to browse the web securely is through the use of a VPN , or HTTPS connection. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a service that allows you to establish a secure connection between the device used to access the Internet and a remote server. When using a connection of this type, the actions carried out on the web will be encrypted and made unreadable, in such a way as to protect the data from possible interceptions by third parties . Furthermore, the access IP address is hidden and redirected to that of the VPN.

DISCLAIMER OF DATA COLLECTION WITH THE GDPR

The European standard on Cookies and the GPDP , Guarantor for the Protection of Personal Data , is a first step in protecting the data collected by websites for statistical, marketing and other purposes of any kind. The user in Europe can in fact decide whether to allow the collection of data, manage preferences and if he cannot, he can change the site and avoid transferring his data in this sense.

Privacy is an important and determining factor for the user's safety online. For this reason, it is your right to check and choose which conditions are most appropriate for surfing the web, without your data being collected and shared improperly.

DO NOT SHARE SENSITIVE INFORMATION ON THE WEB

Users should never share personal data on the network, especially documents, debit or credit card numbers, residential address or other sensitive information on websites that do not have the appropriate security standards.

Always check by clicking on the padlock at the top of the URL in your browser if the site is secure, if the security certificate (SSL) is valid and how strong it is. But also check which cookies are accepted and if the company or site are really reliable. A license number or VAT number in the footer can be verified to understand that it is indeed real.

BACK UP YOUR DATA

Another rule that comes in handy when it comes to online data is to back up your data regularly . We are sometimes convinced that once something has been posted on the web it remains there forever, as if placed in a sort of limbo. But the reality is different.

The servers where our data is kept could crash , but also hacker attacks aimed at obtaining data and eliminating it, or simply targeting a particular company. In this way, it is possible to save a version of the data in the Cloud which can be restored in case of problems. This also applies if a device is lost or broken.

BEWARE OF ONLINE SCAMS

Browsing online can also lead to online scams of all kinds, starting with email and SMS phishing , whereby personal phone numbers or emails entered on some site are used to try to trap users.

Often these are messages that pretend to be a bank, a courier or a known service, inviting you to click on the link to complete a payment and enter personal details. Be very careful, never fall for these scams. No service, institution or company will ask you to enter personal data or make payments from links sent via email or SMS .

Also remember that it's important to stay up to date and recognize the most common ways hackers and scammers can obtain your personal data.